Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Sea
Sea
(sē)
, Noun.
[OE.
see
, AS. sǣ
; akin to D. zee
, OS. & OHG. sēo
, G. see
, OFries. se
, Dan. sö
, Sw. sjö
, Icel. saer
, Goth. saiws
, and perhaps to L. saevus
fierce, savage. √151a.] 1.
One of the larger bodies of salt water, less than an ocean, found on the earth’s surface; a body of salt water of second rank, generally forming part of, or connecting with, an ocean or a larger sea;
as, the Mediterranean
. Sea
; the Sea
of Marmora; the North Sea
; the Carribean Sea
2.
An inland body of water, esp. if large or if salt or brackish;
as, the Caspian
; sometimes, a small fresh-water lake; Sea
; the Sea
of Aralas, the
. Sea
of Galilee3.
The ocean; the whole body of the salt water which covers a large part of the globe.
I marvel how the fishes live in the
sea
. Shakespeare
Ambiguous between
The river horse and scaly crocodile.
sea
and landThe river horse and scaly crocodile.
Milton.
4.
The swell of the ocean or other body of water in a high wind; motion or agitation of the water's surface; also, a single wave; a billow;
as, there was a high
. sea
after the storm; the vessel shipped a sea
5.
(Jewish Antiq.)
A great brazen laver in the temple at Jerusalem; – so called from its size.
He made a molten
sea
of ten cubits from brim to brim, round in compass, and five cubits the height thereof. 2 Chron. iv. 2.
6.
Fig.: Anything resembling the sea in vastness;
as, a
. sea
of gloryShak.
All the space . . . was one
sea
of heads. Macaulay.
☞ Sea is often used in the composition of words of obvious signification; as, sea-bathed, sea-beaten, sea-bound, sea-bred, sea-circled, sealike, sea-nursed, sea-tossed, sea-walled, sea-worn, and the like. It is also used either adjectively or in combination with substantives; as, sea bird, sea-bird, or seabird, sea acorn, or sea-acorn.
At sea
, upon the ocean; away from land; figuratively, without landmarks for guidance; lost; at the mercy of circumstances.
“To say the old man was at sea would be too feeble an expression.” G. W. Cable
– At full sea
at the height of flood tide; hence, at the height.
“But now God's mercy was at full sea.” Jer. Taylor.
– Beyond seas
, or Beyond the sea
or
Beyond the seas
(Law)
, out of the state, territory, realm, or country.
Wharton.
– Half seas over
, half drunk.
[Colloq.]
Spectator.
– Heavy sea
, a sea in which the waves run high.
– Long sea
, a sea characterized by the uniform and steady motion of long and extensive waves.
– Short sea
, a sea in which the waves are short, broken, and irregular, so as to produce a tumbling or jerking motion.
– To go to sea
, to adopt the calling or occupation of a sailor.
Webster 1828 Edition
Sea
SEA
,Noun.
see.
1. A large bason, cisternor laver which Solomon made in the temple, so large as to contain more than six thousand gallons. This was called the brazen sea, and used to hold water for the priests to wash themselves. 1 Kings 7. 2 Chron. 4
2. A large body of water, nearly inclosed by land, as the Baltic or the Mediterranean; as the sea of Azof. Seas are properly branches of the ocean, and upon the same level. Large bodies of water inland, and situated above the level of the ocean, are lakes. The appellation of sea, given to the Caspian lake, is an exception, and not very correct. So the lake of Galilee is called a sea, from the Greek.
3. The ocean; as, to go to sea. The fleet is at sea, or on the high seas.
4. A wave; a billow; a surge. The vessel shipped a sea.
5. The swell of the ocean in a tempest, or the direction of the waves; as, we head the sea.
6. Proverbially, a large quantity of liquor; as a sea of blood.
7. A rough or agitated place or element.
In a troubled sea of passion tost. Milton.